Downsized engine set for next Renault Megane RS

The next Renault Sport Megane is set to take a step backwards to move forwards.

Speaking at the launch of the mainstream fourth-generation Megane in Portugal this week, Renault Sport's Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Communication, Regis Fricotte, confirmed the new hot hatch, which isn't due to be revealed until 2017, will receive a new engine as the current 2.0-litre turbo four cylinder has reached the end of its development potential.

Fricotte wouldn't confirm exact details of its replacement, but hinted at a high-output version of the Clio RS' 1.6-litre turbo four cylinder.

"That [2.0-litre] engine was good in terms of what it could do in an RS, but it is an engine that is not suitable for further development in terms of consumption and CO2 [outputs]," he told Australian media.

"[The next Megane RS] will have an engine that will develop the performance we want. We have never had a car with the biggest engine…so what, we still have the [front-wheel drive] record on the Nurburgring," he said, adding that "We will try and improve it.

"It is something that we are proud of and that animates and showcases the ability of the whole company, and it is important for the image and the business that it generates from it. But it is not the priority. The priority is to make the next RS a great car."

Fricotte also stopped short of confirming whether the new engine could better the current Megane RS' 201kW maximum output.

"Power is part of the equation," he said.

"With all the previous Megane RS, we have shown that power does not make the best car. Your engine output is part of the equation but not everything."

It has already been confirmed the next-generation Megane will be built exclusively in a five-door body style rather than today's three-door coupe, but Fricotte said the move will not restrict the company's plan to roll out a range of variants, including a replacement for the 'Ring record Trophy R which removed the rear seats to reduce weight and was fitted with a roll cage.

"There is no limit to what we can do," he said.

"It makes it a bit awkward on a five door if you take out the rear seats, I agree with that… but apart from that a Trophy R is all about weight reduction and optimisation of the performance, brakes, engine and gearbox.

"So the fact it is not a three door doesn't restrict us technically at all."

It is also extremely likely the Megane could follow its smaller brother and come equipped only with a modern dual-clutch automatic transmission to help improve fuel consumption as well as acceleration.

"[We had] the same question on Clio," he said.

"Some customer have asked us why…for the kind of reason that they want to be at 6000rpm most of the time. And the guys with Clio RS, there are some customers who really liked to take that car on a circuit and you may have more sensation with a manual than with a DCT. But we are selling more Clio RS now that before.

"I'm sure there would have been some customers that wanted a Clio IV RS with a manual but we believe we have made the right choice."

While other key rivals, such as the new Ford Focus RS and Volkswagen's Golf R, feature an all-wheel drive transmission to help extract maximum performance, and the new Megane's modular underpinnings can accept a similar layout as it shares its structure with SUVs such as the Nissan Qashqai and X-Trail, Fricotte conceded the Megane's torsion beam rear suspension prevents it from being fitted to the hatchback and says the RS will retain its more playful front-drive layout – at least for the foreseeable future.

"Things are open," he said.

"I think eventually it will create some questions about how to transfer the engine power to the road, and when you are around 300hp it becomes a bit tricky. So, eventually in many, many years it will be an issue but we can still improve on where we are. Our expertise is in the chassis."